An Austrian man has pleaded guilty to plotting to attack one of Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna, as his trial began today. The man, identified only as Beran A, faced charges including terrorist offences and membership in a terrorist organisation.
Details of the Plot
Taylor Swift had planned to perform three gigs in the Austrian capital in August 2024 as part of her worldwide Eras Tour. However, the Austrian dates were cancelled after authorities thwarted an attack on one of the concerts. Devastated fans rallied together to exchange friendship bracelets and honour Taylor following the cancellations. The singer said at the time it was "devastating" to have the concerts cancelled.
Beran A, aged 21, is facing trial alongside another man known as Arda K and a third man, Hasan E. It is alleged they had planned to carry out simultaneous attacks in three countries - Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan in 2024 in the name of IS. Beran A and Arda K never carried out their planned attacks.
Additional Allegations
A third man, known as Hasan E, allegedly stabbed a security guard at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on 11 March 2024. He was arrested and is now in pretrial detention in Saudi Arabia. Beran A and Arda K did not undertake their plans in Turkey and the UAE. Beran then returned to Vienna and allegedly began plotting to attack Taylor's concert.
Beran A had allegedly planned to target those outside Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium, which holds approximately 65,000 inside the venue, by using knives or homemade explosives. It had been alleged that the man wanted to "kill as many people as possible".
Taylor Swift's Response
In a statement at the time, Taylor said: "Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows."
Taylor's next tour dates were in London, where she opened her show with a message of togetherness. As she opened her show, performing her hits Cruel Summer and Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince, she spoke to the crowd: "The way that you have chosen to welcome us. There are 92,000 of you, out here, with your hands in the air - screaming the words. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts. We love you so much London." She added: "I know how much planning and energy and effort it took to come to these shows. I really appreciate that."
